Anthony Bourdain Leaves Travel Channel For New Show on CNN

Celebrity chef, TV host and author, Anthony Bourdain is making a bold career move, partnering up with CNN and presumably ending a six-year plus relationship with The Travel Channel. The Sunday prime time food and travel program will premiere in early 2013, according to a press release from the twenty-four-hour news network.

The series is the latest move in CNN's attempt to broaden its weekend programming slate, which already includes medical program, 'Sanjay Gupta MD' and personal finance series, 'Your Bottom Line.'

Fans of Bourdain's long-running Travel Channel series, 'Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations' shouldn't fret over the move just yet. The format of the celebrated chef's new CNN series sounds familiar. Like 'No Reservations,' it will be shot on location and "examine cultures from around the world through their food and dining and travel rituals."

“I’m really looking forward to coming over to CNN. I think the world is going to get a whole lot bigger for me,” said Bourdain. “I hope that old fans and new ones will be excited about what’s coming down the road.”

It's a breakout move for Bourdain, taking his well-established brand into more mainstream territory as CNN's go-to food guy. But will his fans follow? As long as the news network doesn't attempt to rein in the colorful chef, the partnership could prove a recipe for success.